A new face for engineering
December/January, 1980/1981
Missouri Shamrock, Linda Kial
The setting is the University of Missouri-Columbia, 1893. The scene is the
construction of the engineering complex (see diagram).
Eighty-seven years later the scene is again one of construction. Portions of
the engineering complex are currently being renovated. Why and what is being
done? Due to the age of the engineering buildings, some type of renovation is
naturally needed to update classrooms and laboratories. Three departments –
civil, mechanical, and chemical - consulted with architects and submitted
proposals for renovation of their respective departments. Five to six million
dollars were needed to carry out the submitted proposals. However, only $1.98
million was allocated to all three departments and so priorities and feasibility
of the proposals were defined for each department based on the allocation of
funds.
The civil engineering department has been in Phase One of the renovation since
last fall. The civil engineering building was built in 1893 and was known at
that time as the mechanic arts building. This building is the home of
classrooms, faculty offices, and the student lounge. In 1922, the civil
engineering laboratories were added to the engineering complex and more
laboratories were again added in 1957.
The civil engineering department is applying their portion of the renovation
funds to a cosmetic surgery of the mechanic arts building. Dr. John O’Connor,
chairman of the civil engineering department, considers their portion of the
renovation a “very highly student oriented renovation.” Classrooms are being
carpeted for improved sound properties and better lighting facilities are being
added to improve visual aids. A new climate controlled heating system is also
being added to the building for energy conservation and a more comfortable
classroom atmosphere. An attractive student lounge will also be provided from a
fund contributed by the civil engineering alumni.
Dr. O’Connor claims the renovation is rapidly moving and should be completed
this month. There have been a few setbacks due to labor strikes and materials
problems, but occupation of the building should begin next semester. During the
course of the renovation, some of the faculty members have been housed at C14
Maryland Avenue and classes have been taught throughout campus. However,
knowing what lies ahead for the department has caused little complaining. In
celebration of the event when the civil engineering building will be turned back
over to the department, Dr. O’Connor has developed a calculator contest, at his
own expense, for determining the date of completion of the renovation. One
contest has already been conducted without consideration given to the delays
that have occurred. However, only one student hazarded a guess, October, and
thus won a mini-calculator. Phase Two of the contest is currently under way
with three divisions: faculty and staff, graduate students, and undergraduate
students. The completion date is to be decided on the date Professor Jay
McGarraugh moves back into his office. When the renovation is completed, Dr.
O’Connor plans a celebration and dedication.
Phase Two of the renovation comprises the mechanical and chemical department’s
laboratories. The mechanical engineering department is housed in the main
engineering building built in 1893. The mechanical engineering laboratories
were built in 1936 with an addition in 1949. The department is applying their
funds for renovation, which began this past summer, to their 1936 laboratories.
Double decks are being construed in the laboratory bays. The mechanical
engineering department’s south bay will just have a slab installed, due to a
current lack of funds. On the first floor of the south bay, improved lighting
and video capabilities are planned along with a computer aided design room and
an instrumentation check-out room. The second floor will house specialization
laboratories including a laser facility. To improve safety standards, corridors
will pass through the front and the back of all bays, with a “superramp”
constructed on the outside of the building for handicap access. Undergraduate
and graduate students both will benefit from this laboratory renovation.
Dr. Paul Braisted, chairman of the mechanical engineering department, stated
that he was very proud of the staff, faculty, and students attitude during the
renovation period. Only two classrooms are currently being used in the
mechanical engineering department. Dr. Braisted claims that “one way or another
courses with required labs are being taken care of.” Renovation of the
laboratories is scheduled for completion next summer.
The chemical engineering department completes the three departments involved in
the renovation process. Chemical engineering is also renovating their
laboratories in conjunction with the mechanical engineering department. The
chemical engineering laboratories were built along with the mechanical
engineering laboratories in 1936 and additional laboratories were added in 1957.
The chemical engineering bay will be decked over for additional space. On the
first floor three new research laboratories will be partitioned off while three
existing laboratories will be renovated with the shop. One research laboratory,
however, will be lost in order to house an air-conditioning system. The second
floor will consume open space over the shop to house tall equipment with the
remainder decked over. On the second floor, three research laboratories will be
added while two existing laboratories and two faculty offices will be renovated.
Safety features are being added to all laboratories to comply with current
safety standards. The nuclear engineering department will also gain one lab
during this portion of the renovation.
Dr. George Preckshot, chairman of the chemical engineering department, feels
space will be a problem, when the renovation is completed. The department has
been plagued with problems due to the construction. According to Dr. Preckshot,
the renovation “lacks indepth planning” by the University since no space was
allocated to move facilities during the renovation. Faculty offices are cramped
in the engineering annex and current laboratory space is lacking. However, Dr.
Preckshot is happy to see the renovation currently underway and is looking
forward to the new facilities.
All the renovation has been taking place in the presence of record enrollments.
In 1979, the College of Engineering’s enrollment was 1961 students, while this
years enrollment climbed to 2243 students. The college will receive an
accreditation visit next fall and hopefully the renovation will be completed by
then. No plans currently exist for more renovation phases of the engineering
complex although much more is needed to bring the engineering facilities at UMC
into adequate condition for the 1980’s.
Other proposals, outside of renovation, have been submitted to restore beauty to
the engineering complex. One such proposal is to restore the engineering
building for its historical significance in technical and scientific education.
The engineering building is an integral part of the Francis Quadrangle, a
National Historic Landmark. Professor Gayl Bunch of mechanical engineering and
Dean William Kimel, have submitted proposals twice to the Department of Natural
Resources to restore a portion of the engineering building to the original
architectural style of the 1890’s. The proposal includes restoration of the
entrance and foyer facing the Francis Quadrangle, the front hallway of the main
floor, the ground floor and the second floor of the interior. Ceilings and
flooring tile would need to be replaced, restoring the archways as they
originally were. On the exterior of the building, four chimneys are down and
need restoring while the tower and cupolas need some of the decorative fillagree
replaced.
This proposal for restoration of the engineering building was submitted twice,
the last time being March 1, 1979. Both times the proposal was rejected
unfortunately. Reasons for the rejection may be that a building in the private
sector has preference over a public building and the engineering building is
still in stable condition. Another reason may be because the cost was too high
($250,000). No plans currently exist for submitting the proposal a third time,
but perhaps one day the restoration will take place and the engineering building
can become a showplace.
To help restore beauty to the engineering building, a mural project has recently
been approved by the Executive Council of the College of Engineering. Professor
Tracy Montimony, of the UMC art department, designed the mural to be executed on
the north wall of the main east/west hall of the engineering building. A scale
representation of the mural was placed on display for several weeks in the
Dean’s office. The mural presents a challenge to Professor Montimony due to the
location and fact that the surface consists of brown tones of ceramic brick
separated by a grid of mortar. An elevator door is also located on the proposed
wall. Professor Mantimony’s solution is an abstract design incorporating
engineering motifs and a bold acknowledgement of the grid pattern due to the
bricks. She has titled the mural “Engineering: Images and Symbols.”
Dr. Aaron Krawitz, professor of mechanical engineering is chairman of the Ad Hoc
Committee for the Proposed Mural Project. Dr. Krawitz feels that the mural
“symbolizes the role of the College of Engineering as a member of a campus with
a strong humanistic tradition. It will also be a decorative and stimulating
addition to our facility that is consistent with the ongoing program to beautify
the campus.” The UMC art department will be funding the mural project while the
College of Engineering will prepare the wall for painting. The mural is a class
project for Experimental Media and will be executed during the winter semester
of 1981.
The mural project and the proposed restoration illustrate the interest in having
an attractive engineering facility. An attractive complex will draw better
students and faculty to UMC’s College of Engineering. These projects and
proposals along with the renovation shows that the UMC is in tune to the needs
and interests of the 1980’s.